René Descartes, 1650s

Not on View

Medium

engraving on laid paper

Dimensions

plate: 31.4 × 23.1 cm (12 3/8 × 9 1/8 in.)

sheet: 34.5 × 25.5 cm (13 9/16 × 10 1/16 in.)

Credit Line

Purchased as the Gift of Lawrence Lawver

Catalogue Raisonné

Hollstein, no. 74, State ii/vi

Accession Number

2016.43.1

Artists / Makers

Jonas Suyderhoff (artist) Dutch, c. 1613 - 1686

Frans Hals (artist after) Dutch, c. 1582/1583 - 1666

Image Use

This image is in the public domain.
Read our full Open Access policy for images .

Inscription

across top of plate: NATVS HAGAE TVRONVM PRIDIE CA. APR 1596. DENATVS HOLMIA. CAL. FEB. 1650; across bottom of plate below image: RENATVS DESCARTES, NOBILIS GALLUS, PERRONI DOMINUS, SUMMUS MATHEMATICUS & PHILOSOPHUS. / Talis erat vultu NATVRAE FILIVS: unus / Qui Menti in Matris viscera pandid iter. / Assignansq suis quavis miracula causis, / Miraclum reliquum solus in orbe fuit. / F. Hals pinxit Il Suijderhoeff sculpsit; by later hand, lower right center in graphite: VAR

Provenance

Henri Beraldi, Paris [born 1849] (Lugt 230). John Young, London [d. 1874/1875] (Lugt 1560). (Paul Prouté, S. A., Paris); purchased 2015 by NGA.

Associated Names

Beraldi, Henri
Prouté, S.A., Paul
Young, John

Bibliography

1949: Hollstein, F.W.H. et al. German engravings, etchings and woodcuts ca. 1400-1700. 8 vols. Amsterdam: Menno Hertzberger, 1954-1868. Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, ca. 1450-1700. Vols. I-XV, XVIII, XIX. Amsterdam: Menno Hertzberge: no. 74, ii/vi